Lead wheel weights on roadways can contribute to soil, surface,
and groundwater contamination and pose hazards to aquatic life.

The accumulation of lead wheel weights on urban roads contributes to
the lead found in urban runoff. Most weights are lost on city streets when 
vehicles hit curbs, bounce over potholes, stop or accelerate suddenly, or 
turn sharply. Once lost from vehicles, they are worn down by traffic and 
the lead is spread by wind or water. Storm water can sweep this lead into 
nearby creeks and sewers, ultimately washing it into nearby waterways where 
it can adversely affect water quality, especially groundwater and aquatic 
ecosystems. In addition, small lead particles can be tracked into homes 
where they add to the lead exposure of individuals who live near busy streets.

Ordinary daily occurring environmental conditions and naturally occurring 
chemical reactions are conducive for creating toxic water soluble wheel 
weight lead conversions capable of poisoning all water sources.

Specifically, discarded and road deposited lead wheel weights can end
up in a landfill or are exposed to landfill bacteria, acid rain, salt, sand, snow
and will potentially form, but not limited to, highly mobile and water 
soluble toxic lead compounds *lead acetate, **lead nitrate and ***lead hydroxide. 
Toxic lead compounds can then be unknowingly absorbed by every living 
creature and all plant life. Lead transmission through the food chain is 
inevitable. 

Acetic acid is present in landfills due to the conversion of 
landfill sugars by landfill bacteria to acetic acid.
*When H2O and acetic acid are present, metallic lead 
is converted to toxic water soluble lead acetate. 

Acid Rain contains dilute nitric and(or) sulphuric acids 
created by industrial and automotive pollution.
**When Oxygen or H2O and nitric acid are present, metallic lead is 
converted to toxic water soluble lead nitrate.

***When both oxygen and water are present, metallic lead 
is converted to toxic water soluble lead hydroxide.

Lead Acetate:
Solubility in water:
44.39 g/100 mL (20 °C)
211 g/100 mL (50 °C)[1] 

Lead acetate is soluble in water and glycerin. With water it forms 
the trihydrate, Pb(CH3COO)2·3H2O, a colorless or white efflorescent 
monoclinic crystalline substance. Lead(II) acetate is also known as 
lead acetate, lead diacetate, plumbous acetate, sugar of lead, lead 
sugar, salt of Saturn, and Goulard's powder (after Thomas Goulard).

Lead Nitrate:
Solubility in water: 
52 g/100 mL (20 °C)
127 g/100 mL (100 °C) 

Lead(II) nitrate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula 
Pb(NO3)2. It commonly occurs as a colourless crystal or white powder 
and, unlike most other lead(II) salts, is soluble in water.
(http://www.leadfreewheels.org/problem.shtml)